A member of Rosetown Town Council will face a number of sanctions after being found in contravention of the towns Code of Ethics bylaws.

It was alleged that Councilor Dale Arsenault inappropriately shared an internal email with a member of public, setting in motion a series of events that lead to a third party investigation.  On April 18, after consideration of the complaint, and based on the findings of the third party investigation, Council passed a resolution finding the complaint to be substantiated in that Councilor Arsenault breached the following sections of the Code of Ethics Bylaw

  • Honesty: Council concluded that Councillor Arsenault breached the Honesty provision by making a number of misleading and/or untruthful statements during the third-party investigation. 

 

  • Respect: Council concluded Councillor Arsenault breached the Respect provision by prompting a member of the public to send an inappropriate email to the CAO, and by making unfounded allegations against the CAO during the third-party investigation. Council also concluded that Councillor Arsenault made disrespectful comments to the Complainant and other Council members during Council meetings and in email correspondence. 

 

  • Transparency and Accountability: Council concluded that Councillor Arsenault breached the Transparency and Accountability provision by failing to take responsibility for providing misleading information to Council and by refusing to comply with the third-party investigation. 

 

  • Confidentiality: Council concluded that Councillor Arsenault breached confidentiality by forwarding email to a member of the public which was intended solely for Council and was not authorized to be shared. In forwarding the email, Councillor Arsenault also shared the email addresses of the Complainant and the rest of Council without their consent. 

 

  • Leadership and the Public Interest: Council concluded that Councillor Arsenault breached the Leadership and Public Interest provision by failing to cooperate with the third-party investigation. 

 

  • Responsibility: Council concluded that Councillor Arsenault breached the Leadership and the Public Interest provision by failing to take responsibility for sharing the Complainant’s email address and the email itself with a member of the public. Council also concluded that Councillor Arsenault attempted to justify his inappropriate conduct by deflecting blame onto others. 

 

  • Communication: Council concluded that Councillor Arsenault breached the Communication provision by making disrespectful comments to the Complainant, by sending bullying and disrespectful emails to the CAO and by making unfounded allegations against others. 

 

  • Relationship with Other Councillors, the CAO and Town of Rosetown Staff: Council concluded that Councillor Arsenault breached the Relationship provision by making disrespectful comments to the CAO and the Complainant and by failing to conduct himself with decorum at Council meetings. 

Council further decided on what remedial action that the councilor must now take. That includes a written apology to the CAO and to all members of Council by May 18, 2022.   Councilor Arsenault is also subject to a 60-day suspension (April 18, 2022 – June 17, 2022) from Council and all committees.  During the 60-day suspension Councilor Arsenault will not receive any Council communications that would otherwise be forwarded to him as a counselor.  

via Rosetown.ca